Ukrainian Intelligence: Russia Reshuffling Military in Crimea

Ukraine increased the level of threat because of Russian activities on the occupied peninsula, while the General Staff is ready to address possible threats, Vadym Skibitskyi of Ukrainian Defense Intelligence told Ukrayinska Pravda.

"Relocation of equipment in Crimea goes along with active preparation for the ‘Kavkaz 2016’ military training in which all the Russian military units in Crimea will take part," Skibitskyi informed.

"The level of Russian threat is increased. It’s always higher when they conduct military training on the peninsula," he said.

He added that the training may be used to hide the military buildup and relocation of forces. It was the training ‘Kavkaz 2008’ when a military contingent was created to invade Georgia in August 2008. The major threat comes from the airborne forces," Skibitskyi underlined.

He also told that the military equipment brought to Crimea by railroad is a part of rotation. "According to the defense intelligence, Russian airborne military units in northern Crimea are being partially replaced with newcomers," he stressed.

Skibitskyi did not discuss an increased threat for the local population in Crimea. "This has been taking place for two years already. The rotation is made twice a year," he explained.

He also told that the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was fully aware of these developments and ready to address all possible threats.

On Sunday, August 7 the Russian authorities suspended border crossings for individuals and vehicles at the administrative border with Crimea for undisclosed reasons. On the same day, a major buildup of Russian military equipment has been documented in the northern Crimean cities of Dzhankoi and Armiansk, and Russian forces started to establish checkpoints on several roads in Crimea.

Source: Oksana Kovalenko, Ukrayinska Pravda